On this day in 1861 the first speed limit was introduced in Great Britain of 10 mph (16 km/h) on open roads, reduced to 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns and 4 mph (6 km/h) in rural areas. The first person to be convicted of speeding is believed to be Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, who on 28 January 1896 was fined for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h). He was fined 1 shilling plus costs. The speed limit was set at the speed of a horse being ridden at speed, but not furiously. The advent of the motor car and the ‘Mr Toad' type of driver meant that road regulations had to come under constant scrutiny. This ditty from the early twentieth century typifies the drivers of the time:

I collided with some trippers
In my swift de Dion Bouton
Squashed them out as flat as kippers
Left...

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